My research activity is focused on the mechanisms of learning and memory systems in the brain, with particular emphasis on hippocampal/prefrontal interactions, spatial cognition,and memory consolidation. I am investigating these problems with theoretical and experimental means.

Some recent and active projects

• Synaptic plasticity in the hippocampus is thought to be crucial for the learning of routes and goal locations. With Henrique Cabral and Cyriel Pennartz, and in collaboration with L. Rondi-Reig (Paris), we are recording the activity of CA1 ensembles in wild-type and NMDA NR-1 KO mice, in a spatial navigational task specifically designed to highlight the impairments of the plasticity-deficient mutants. For more information, see Henrique Cabral’s project.



Time course of memory trace reactivation in the medial Prefrontal cortex during sleep,
showing strong irregular bouts (solid lines) coincident with the periods of strong oscillations
in the slow/delta (0-4 Hz) and spindle (7-14 Hz) characteristic of slow wave sleep



• ARC (Activity-regulated cytoskeletal) protein is a gene important for synaptic plasticity. ARC/Arg3.1 knockout mice, developed by prof. D. Kuhl et al. (Freie Universität, Berlin) have memory consolidation related deficits. With Hemi Malkki, we are recording hippocampal neural ensembles in these subjects, to discover how neural representations of spaces and events are altered when consolidation mechanisms are deficient.
  
  
• Consolidation of episodic memories is the mechanism that gradually transforms newly acquired memories from a temporary store in the medial temporal lobe into permanently stored traces involving other parts of the neocortex. In the process, memories change in character, losing context information and building up a more abstract model of the world (that is, acquiring a “semantic” character). Together with Cyriel Pennartz and Rens Bod (Univ. van Amsterdam) we are applying theoretical models inspired by computational linguistics to analyze semantic memory formation (Battaglia et al., 2004a; Battaglia et al., 2004b)
  
  
• Gamma and theta oscillations in the Electro-Encephalogram (EEG), when recorded from several brain areas, display significant task-related modulation of their intensity and coherence, which also correlates to neural ensemble responses. In collaboration with Marijn van Wingerden we are analyzing recordings from the Orbitofrontal cortex, during odor-reward association tasks. The goal of this analysis is to find out how gamma and theta rhythms interact and depend on behaviorally salient events such as reward intake and presentation of cues that predict reward.

Internal/external collaborations

• Cerebral memory trace reactivation is a possible substrate for the consolidation processes taking place offline (after memory acquisition). These processes may depend upon plasticity mechanisms that ultimately promote the re-organization and stabilization of memories. Sleep plays a specific role in memory consolidation; Slow-Wave Sleep (SWS) has been associated with the consolidation of declarative memories. SWS is characterized by slow oscillations of cortical field potentials, with bouts of intense firing separated by intervals of sparse activity, reflecting the bistability of the cortical network.
  At the same time, the hippocampus engages in a more regular activity pattern, punctuated by large irregular activity containing rapid bursts of cell activity (sharp waves). The two phenomena are tightly related. Together with A. Peyrache and S. Wiener (Paris), I developed a novel measure for memory trace reactivation (Battaglia et al. SFN poster 2007, Peyrache et al. SFN poster 2007, see also (Hoffman et al., 2007)), allowing to follow the precise time course of memory trace reactivation and its interaction with cortical and hippocampal collective phenomena. In the APCN group, I collaborate on the theme of reactivation with Tara Arbab, Henrique Cabral, Hemi Malkki and Cyriel Pennartz.
  
  
• Entorhinal grid cells represent the most plausible mechanism for path integration in the brain and are therefore a key component of the spatial navigation system in rodents. Together with B. McNaughton (Tucson), O. Jensen (Nijmegen), E. and M.-B. Moser (Trondheim) we developed a model of grid cell functioning and development (McNaughton et al., 2006).
  

You can also look at my personal home page http://www.battaglia.nl     (under construction)

Key publications

• Benchenane K, Tiesinga PH, Battaglia FP (2011)
  Oscillations in the prefrontal cortex: a gateway to memory and attention
  Curr Opin Neurobiol. doi:10.1016/j.conb.2011.01.004    abstract/PDF

• Benchenane K, Peyrache A, Khamassi M, Tierney PL, Gioanni Y, Battaglia FP, Wiener SI (2010)
  Coherent theta oscillations and reorganization of spike timing in the
  hippocampal- prefrontal network upon learning Neuron 66:921-936    PDF

• Peyrache A, Khamassi M, Benchenane K, Wiener S, Battaglia F (2009)
  Replay of rule-learning related neural patterns in the prefrontal cortex during sleep
  Nature Neuroscience, online: 31 May 2009 | doi:10.1038/nn.2337     abstract/PDF

• Hoffman KL, Battaglia FP, Harris K, MacLean JN, Marshall L, Mehta MR (2007)
  The upshot of upstates in the neocortex: from slow oscillations to memory formation.
  Journal of Neuroscience 27(44) : 11838-41     abstract/PDF

• McNaughton BL, Battaglia FP, Jensen O, Moser EI, Moser MB (2006)
  Path integration and the neural basis of the 'cognitive map'
  Nature Reviews Neuroscience 7:663-678     abstract/PDF

• Battaglia FP, Sutherland GR, McNaughton BL (2004A)
  Hippocampal sharp wave bursts coincide with neocortical "up-state" transitions
  Learning Memory 11 : 697-704     abstract/PDF

• Battaglia FP, Sutherland GR, McNaughton BL (2004B)
  Local sensory cues and place cell directionality: additional evidence of prospective coding in the hippocampus
  Journal of Neuroscience 24(19) : 4541-4550     abstract/PDF




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This page was last updated on 28 sep 2011

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